First Date

On November 1st Cade turned 16, two days after the Homecoming Dance.  He decided not to go to Homecoming.  Cade's first date was the last week in November.  Sierra Davis asked Cade to the Sadie's Highschool Dance.  He got a delivery at our door that was a tonka dump truck full of cinnamon rolls.  Attached was a note that said, "I wanna HAUL your SWEET BUNS to Sadies. Under the buns were cut out random letters.  It took him an hour to figure out what name it spelled.  Actually, Ashley was the one who figured it out.  We all know Sierra and think she is adorable but she is a senior and we were trying to think of someone his age.  

I can't remember the exact way he answered her.  He made a big poster and made a cloud out of cotton candy and put lemonheads on the cloud for stars.  He said something about being on cloud nine if he could go to the dance with her. 

 Makenzie, Mason, Sierra, Cade

He said they had a really great time on their day long date.  They played games, went shopping for Christmas presents and delivered them to the care center, made their own glow in dark matching shirts for the dance, and went out to dinner.  This was all before going to the dance!

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving Dinner was great.  Heck, its the only time of year I make homemade rolls!  We had no idea how many people would be coming over or who would be coming. We were glad to have my 2 brothers Derek and Justin come.  We also were able to have Margarita, our Spanish friend over.  We worked on saying some words in Spanish but mostly just let Dave do a lot of translating.  The day went fast but was so enjoyed as we have much to be grateful for.

We sure could have used a nap but Black Friday shopping started way too early this year.  We were at Walmart at 7:30 pm. and didn't get done shopping until  6:30 am.  Once again I got most my shopping done but it sure is hard to function the next day on no sleep.   We were resting on a bench at 3:30 am just waiting for one last store to open!

Braces

Ashley got braces this past year at the end of June, two weeks after I got braces!  She was not happy that I came home with braces on and not her.  For me it was kind of a fluke thing.  I had braces on 6 upper teeth for about 5 months.  Ashley quickly learned that they were not so fun.  They hurt, rubbed your lips raw, and everything gets caught in them.  She wore a mouth  guard through basketball season that helped save many bloody injuries.

Uh Oh!

Two nights before Thanksgiving while picking up girls from clogging I got a hysterical phone call from Hailey.  I heard screaming but no actual words.  I hung up because I had only been gone for less than 5 minutes and sometimes she just gets that way and just needs alone time to calm down.   I walk in the door a few minutes later and see Cade holding a very bloody Ty boy!  I saw blood from head to bare toes.  I could see the whites of his eyes only and had no idea where blood was coming from.  As the story goes, he was pushed into the edge of the door.  Hailey and Valerie started screaming and Cade came upstairs and saw Ty and thought he dumped red Kool Aid over his head.  He quickly learned it was blood and started holding pressure. 

Needless to say we earned a trip to the ER.  Ty is now a pro at hospital trips and didn't seem to be bothered.  They put the numbing stuff on his head and he went and looked at the fish -- all smiles.  He didn't cry at all once he made it to the hospital.  They were talking about wrapping him up on the papoose board so he would lie still while putting in the stitches.  I voted to try it without first.  His head, except for the wound and his whole upper body was covered with a sterile drape.  I held his little hands under the drape.  He did amazing.  He got 6 stitches and about halfway through he said with the sweetest little voice, "I'm holding so still huh Mama."  It melted my heart and the people working on him.  He did amazing and even more amazing was the Dr. (who we have come to know from frequent visits) didn't even charge us.  THANK YOU!

With all the commotion that night I forgot to put the turkey in the fridge from the counter.  It stayed out all night and half of the next day before I realized we couldn't eat it if we didn't want to risk getting food poisoning.  Luckily I was able to find the LAST unfrozen turkey in town so Thanksgiving was still able to happen at the Shirley home!

Game Over

BYU Football is over for another year.  This past year we upped our season tickets to four and all took turns.  

 Cougar Tails

Buddies

 Ty and Slade

One moment they are buddies and the next they are enemies. That still doesn't change the fact that Ty is always asking to play with Slade.  We are looking forward when they are old enough to be buddies all the time!

Ty just got a haircut by Slade's Mom, Melanie.  He walked up to her and said, "Melanie will you cut my hair like a snowman?"

Gymnastics

Valerie and Hailey have both made a change this year in where they do gymnastics.  They are taking from Elevate and loving every second.  Hailey loved tumbling but now she gets to do the bars too which happens to be her favorite. 

Hailey and Valerie can play all day long in the basement on the little bar and making up dances.  Ty tries to join in too with his tricks.  Hailey is very flexible (didn't get that from me)  as you can see her in the standing splits.

Hailey and some of the girls from Elevate Gymnastics competition team were able to go to Utah and watch the Olympic gold medal 2012 girls perform.  I was nervous to send Hailey since I wasn't going and she is only 8 but her coaches took great care of her and she had a blast!  She loved eating at Olive Garden (her first time ever) and came back with a necklace with pictures of the 5 girl Olympic gymnasts.  It was a big day for her- one that I am sure she will not forget!